Help me pick out a winter beater

Alfisti · 11-15-2017, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Honestly, they are terrible for real winter conditions. Our dealership refuses to sell them, and we are a Michelin dealer.

Say what? They are fantastic. If one lives in a true snow belt then maybe go Blizzacks or Nokian but as a driveable winter tyre they are great and have a shit ton more bite than any "sport" winter tyre i have tried.

MightyMouseTech · 11-15-2017, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Say what? They are fantastic. If one lives in a true snow belt then maybe go Blizzacks or Nokian but as a driveable winter tyre they are great and have a shit ton more bite than any "sport" winter tyre i have tried.

If you have tried nearly every winter tire out there, you will find the X-Ice are pretty bad. Not much better than a really good all season.

Alfisti · 11-16-2017, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Not much better than a really good all season.

That's just plain wrong. I had brand spanking new Continental DWS, very good all seasons in the mush and slosh and threw on X-ICE III's, was like night and day, no contest at all.

aerostar · 11-16-2017, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

If you have tried nearly every winter tire out there, you will find the X-Ice are pretty bad. Not much better than a really good all season.

I've heard good things about X-Ice and Blizzaks.

Alfisti · 11-16-2017, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aerostar

I've heard good things about X-Ice and Blizzaks.

They are a slightly different tyre.

The Blizzack is better in deep snow, has a deeper tread and carves better. The Michelin matches the Blizzack on ice but handles better and is quieter. For Toronto weather i'd take the Michelin. I run X-Ice on my 9-3 wagon, had Blizzacks before that.

HawkeyeGeoff · 11-16-2017, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfisti

They are a slightly different tyre.

The Blizzack is better in deep snow, has a deeper tread and carves better. The Michelin matches the Blizzack on ice but handles better and is quieter. For Toronto weather i'd take the Michelin. I run X-Ice on my 9-3 wagon, had Blizzacks before that.

I usually just buy the cheapest name brand tire for winters.

I recently got some Hankook EVO's....we will see how they do this winter on my Speed6.

No need for "performance" winter tires IMO.

Alfisti · 11-16-2017, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HawkeyeGeoff

I usually just buy the cheapest name brand tire for winters.

I recently got some Hankook EVO's....we will see how they do this winter on my Speed6.

No need for "performance" winter tires IMO.

The tyres i mention are not performance winter tyres, i am not a fan of performance winters, they don't bite enough.

Taking treadwear, grip and other factors, both the Blizzacks and X-Ice are worth the small premium over the other cheaper options IMHO.

HawkeyeGeoff · 11-16-2017, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfisti

The tyres i mention are not performance winter tyres, i am not a fan of performance winters, they don't bite enough.

Taking treadwear, grip and other factors, both the Blizzacks and X-Ice are worth the small premium over the other cheaper options IMHO.

I've paid up for them....not noticed any difference in the past. Meh. And I live in the Mitten as well. We're basically Canada....so I think we have a stalemate, mate.

F30dud · 11-16-2017, 03:29 PM

Coming from a VW croud and mk5, mk6, and mk7s, i personally wouldn't go with the GTI if you want to be reliable, those mk5s are notorious for the cam follower issue. And the DSG is going to be expensive to fix if it fails after 100k.

In my eyes beaters should be cars that are cheap and work as is. Your list is beaters premium plus

Uber Commuter · 11-16-2017, 03:52 PM

2008.5 or 2009 GTI will have the 2.0 TSI engine, no cam follower issue.

Older will have the FSI with its cam follower; but it is also an easy preventative maintenance item every 50k miles so not that huge a deal.

We had a 2009 GTI that was basically trouble-free for 175k miles until it got t-boned in the rain. Only thing we had to replace in that 175k was wheel hubs and one intake manifold (both known issues and not hard or expensive fixes).

ECSTuning · 11-16-2017, 03:54 PM

The MK5 GTi is going to require a good bit of maintenance, as F30dud the guys said, but if you stay on top of everything they are pretty reliable, we have tons of them in our parking lot (employee cars) that are deep in the 100k miles range.

Put it this way, would you rather drive something with character that may have "quirks" but always puts a smile on your face or something boring?

Uber Commuter · 11-17-2017, 08:03 AM

^That 100%

If I gotta daily-drive it, it better be something I enjoy driving. If I have to live with an appliance, I might as well just take public transportation.

04mazdaspeed · 11-17-2017, 08:36 AM

the sonic would be my pick. I have owned two so far, a 14 ltz and a 15ltz. Both fantastic cars for the money. I also owned a 12 fiesta base and my god was it a beater. Maybe if you stepped into a upper trim level fiesta it wouldn't be as bad but for the same price I would choose the sonic. Also if you get the 1.4t in the sonic, there is quite a mod following for it so 200hp up from the 138hp stock is only a tune away. The vw, eh not a fan of that body style but that's just me.

SaltyNC · 11-17-2017, 10:17 AM

My dad actually won a new 2015 Ford Fiesta SE. It's certainly worth what my dad paid for it.

It is not a bad car for the price point, but I borrowed it for a few days when I had my car in the shop and saw oil spots in our garage. The car only had ~4500 miles on it. I put it on ramps and found oil had blown back under the car and the undercarriage was soaked with oil. Oil leaks in Fiestas seem to be a problem. I changed the oil and filter, and it looked like maybe they put the filter on with a dry seal, so it never fully sealed properly at the filter, but others have had leaks on engine plugs, leaks on cracked valve cover gaskets, etc.

From your list, I think I would go with the GTI.

Salty

TSM330i · 11-17-2017, 06:06 PM

Jeep Wrangler - take the roof and doors off in the summer. Unstoppable in the winter + you won't have to worry about potholes.

Housekeeping · 11-17-2017, 08:17 PM

just finished my search for a winter beater and ended with a 2017 Ram 2500, love it. Always was a Ford guy but this thing blows it away.

bimmer456 · 11-20-2017, 05:40 PM

Get an M5 so you can drive your hot rod year round.

11-16-2017, 03:29 PM	#31
F30dud Second Lieutenant 83 Rep 209 Posts Drives: 18 340 msport Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: cali iTrader: (0)	Coming from a VW croud and mk5, mk6, and mk7s, i personally wouldn't go with the GTI if you want to be reliable, those mk5s are notorious for the cam follower issue. And the DSG is going to be expensive to fix if it fails after 100k. In my eyes beaters should be cars that are cheap and work as is. Your list is beaters premium plus
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11-16-2017, 03:52 PM	#32
Uber Commuter Lieutenant 717 Rep 474 Posts Drives: 2014 328D xDrive Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 328d xDrive [0.00]	2008.5 or 2009 GTI will have the 2.0 TSI engine, no cam follower issue. Older will have the FSI with its cam follower; but it is also an easy preventative maintenance item every 50k miles so not that huge a deal. We had a 2009 GTI that was basically trouble-free for 175k miles until it got t-boned in the rain. Only thing we had to replace in that 175k was wheel hubs and one intake manifold (both known issues and not hard or expensive fixes).
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11-16-2017, 03:54 PM	#33
ECSTuning New Lifetime Replacement Policy 848 Rep 11,738 Posts Drives: Independent Tuning Specialists Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ohio iTrader: (18)	The MK5 GTi is going to require a good bit of maintenance, as F30dud the guys said, but if you stay on top of everything they are pretty reliable, we have tons of them in our parking lot (employee cars) that are deep in the 100k miles range. Put it this way, would you rather drive something with character that may have "quirks" but always puts a smile on your face or something boring?
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11-17-2017, 08:03 AM	#34
Uber Commuter Lieutenant 717 Rep 474 Posts Drives: 2014 328D xDrive Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 328d xDrive [0.00]	^That 100% If I gotta daily-drive it, it better be something I enjoy driving. If I have to live with an appliance, I might as well just take public transportation.
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11-17-2017, 08:36 AM	#35
04mazdaspeed Private First Class 62 Rep 144 Posts Drives: 2011 135i DCT Join Date: May 2017 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	the sonic would be my pick. I have owned two so far, a 14 ltz and a 15ltz. Both fantastic cars for the money. I also owned a 12 fiesta base and my god was it a beater. Maybe if you stepped into a upper trim level fiesta it wouldn't be as bad but for the same price I would choose the sonic. Also if you get the 1.4t in the sonic, there is quite a mod following for it so 200hp up from the 138hp stock is only a tune away. The vw, eh not a fan of that body style but that's just me. __________________ 2011 135i DCT, 33k miles FBO on custom e30 tune
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11-17-2017, 10:17 AM	#36
SaltyNC Captain 374 Rep 870 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW Z4M Roadster Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 BMW Z4M Roadst ... [0.00]	My dad actually won a new 2015 Ford Fiesta SE. It's certainly worth what my dad paid for it. It is not a bad car for the price point, but I borrowed it for a few days when I had my car in the shop and saw oil spots in our garage. The car only had ~4500 miles on it. I put it on ramps and found oil had blown back under the car and the undercarriage was soaked with oil. Oil leaks in Fiestas seem to be a problem. I changed the oil and filter, and it looked like maybe they put the filter on with a dry seal, so it never fully sealed properly at the filter, but others have had leaks on engine plugs, leaks on cracked valve cover gaskets, etc. From your list, I think I would go with the GTI. Salty __________________ 2006 BMW Z4M Interlagos Blue/Black Aux Port\|LED Interior\|LED Strip Trunk\|Underseat First Aid Box\|Stubby Antenna\|Intravee II\|BMW Oil Change Kit\|Top Down Side Panels\|Vibra Technics Engine Mounts\|Rogue Trans Mounts\|Engine Mount Bolts Upgrade\|RS Windblocker\|Euro Front Plate\|M5 Illum Shift Knob\|Supersprint Powerloop Exhaust\|Gruppe-M Intake\|RPI Scoop\|Black Grills\|19x8.5 ET35 F 19x9.5 ET22 R Sportline 8s PSS\| Besian Vanos\|CDV Delete
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11-17-2017, 06:06 PM	#37
TSM330i 2006 330i, TSM, Black, manual, sport 897 Rep 3,698 Posts Drives: '17 C2, GTI, Z4 3.0si Racecar Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chester Springs, PA iTrader: (2)	Jeep Wrangler - take the roof and doors off in the summer. Unstoppable in the winter + you won't have to worry about potholes. __________________ 2017 Porsche C2 - manual of course 2015 GTI S 2008 BMW Z4 3.0si Coupe - because racecar
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11-17-2017, 08:17 PM	#38
Housekeeping Lieutenant 607 Rep 469 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW M5 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	just finished my search for a winter beater and ended with a 2017 Ram 2500, love it. Always was a Ford guy but this thing blows it away.
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11-20-2017, 05:40 PM	#39
bimmer456 Major General 3077 Rep 6,089 Posts Drives: 340i Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Pasadena, CA iTrader: (0)	Get an M5 so you can drive your hot rod year round.
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